Jenny Powell takes over Martin Kemp’s Greatest Hits Radio Mix Tape show — what listeners will notice
In a sudden weekend shuffle, jenny powell will host Greatest Hits Radio’s Mix Tape shows from Friday 10th April, stepping into a slot that airs every Friday and Saturday night from 7pm ET. She replaces Martin Kemp, who steps back after his final broadcast on Saturday 4th April to focus on his live Back to the 80s shows this summer. Powell will broadcast live from the station’s Manchester studios, moving from a weekend Breakfast Club role into the evening mix-tape spotlight.
Jenny Powell’s role and schedule
Jenny Powell’s Mix Tape is scheduled to air every Friday and Saturday night from 7pm ET, with the presenter working live from the Manchester studios. The move shifts her from weekend Breakfast Club mornings to a prime evening position that is positioned to capture a different audience profile: weekend listeners tuning in for curated anthems and themed mixes. Jenny Powell described the change as an opportunity to bring “big energy” to Friday and Saturday nights, signalling an intent to reshape the show’s tone while retaining its established format.
Why this matters right now — Martin Kemp steps back
Martin Kemp’s decision to step back after a five-year run of weekend shows creates immediate scheduling and brand implications. Kemp said, “I’ve had an incredible run on Greatest Hits Radio but it’s time to let someone else share their Mix Tapes with the nation, ” and he will concentrate on his Back to the 80s live shows this summer. The handover—with Kemp’s last show on April 4th and Powell’s debut on April 10th—leaves a narrow transition window for the station to retain continuity, reassure regular listeners and manage promotional messaging around the change.
The timing is material for several reasons: the handover occurs ahead of a summer slate of live events tied to Kemp’s touring commitments, the station retains Kemp for future projects, and the move tests whether an established morning presenter can translate weekend Breakfast Club familiarity into evening entertainment appeal. The schedule detail—two nights a week at 7pm ET—also creates a predictable appointment listening slot the station can monetise and promote to advertisers targeting weekend leisure audiences.
Expert perspectives and regional impact
Andy Ashton, Content Director at Greatest Hits Radio, thanked Martin Kemp for five years of weekend shows and confirmed Kemp will remain involved with future station projects. Ashton said that Jenny’s energy and experience would ensure the Mix Tape shows continue to engage listeners, a comment that frames the change as strategic rather than reactive. Jenny, previously a weekend Breakfast Club presenter, emphasised enthusiasm for the new time slot and its different audience dynamics.
The change will carry regional production implications because Powell will broadcast live from Manchester. Concentrating live presenting in Manchester may influence how the station sources guests, produces local features and balances national versus regional content. For listeners, the most immediate changes will be a different presenting style on Friday and Saturday evenings and the potential reorientation of playlist choices and on-air conversation to reflect Powell’s approach.
Operationally, the transition leaves questions the station will need to answer publicly: how the team intends to manage continuity across the week, which projects will keep Kemp involved, and how promotional campaigns will introduce Powell’s Mix Tape to established weekend audiences. The public comments from Kemp, Powell and Andy Ashton set expectations—continuity, energetic presentation and ongoing station collaboration—without detailing the station’s longer-term programming strategy.
As the April handover approaches, listeners and advertisers alike will watch whether the Mix Tape’s audience levels remain steady, and whether the on-air shift from Kemp to Powell alters the show’s demographic reach. Will Powell’s move from morning to evening create a fresh rhythm for the weekend schedule, or will the change produce short-term churn as habitual listeners adjust? The answers will shape not only the Mix Tape slot but also the station’s weekend identity going forward.
With Martin Kemp refocusing on live performances and Jenny Powell taking the reins for two nights a week, the station has signalled both continuity and renewal—now the metrics and listener response will determine whether the handover achieves its aims. How will the Mix Tape evolve under Powell’s stewardship, and what will this mean for the station’s weekend programming strategy?
